Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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" Give me a fabulous bedazzled costume and mike, honey, and I will light up the stage!" —NENE LEAKES Cirque du NeNe BRAZEN "REAL HOUSEWIFE" NENE LEAKES SHEDS EVEN MORE OF HER FILTER AS ZUMANITY'S MISTRESS OF SENSUALITY. BY NICOLE RUPERSBURG N eNe Lea kes has been a household na me since her out rageous antics on The Real Housewives of Atlanta led to her solo spin-off, I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding; guest-star spots on The New Normal and Glee; and appearances on The Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars. A fan favorite for the eye-rolling, hair-pulling, "Girl, bye"-ing atti- tude we expect from our top reality TV stars, Leakes knows how to do one thing better than anyone else: Keep people watching—and talking about— her. Now t he indomit able Lea kes t a kes her mizbehav ior to t he st age, play ing t he Mist ress of Sensua lit y (usua lly por t rayed by a fabulously frocked drag queen) in Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity to celebrate the show's 10th anniversary, the first time in Cirque's 30 -year history that it has inte- grated a celebrity into a show. What qualifies you as a Mistress of Sensuality? When I think of Zumanity, I think sexy, bold, titillating. I'm no aerialist or contortionist—I'll save that for the beyond-talented cast—but I can tell you that I'm not known for being a wallf lower, and my spicy persona will make a splash! I know how to work it and seduce audiences with my vivacious personality, all while looking fierce in a killer pair of heels! Do you t hink you c a n out- fabulous the drag queen you're temporarily replacing? Honey, believe me, I am as fabu- lous as they come! I fell in love with Zumanity when I first saw the show back in December, especia lly emcee Edie. She brings so much life to her role, and I hope to do the same. I thrive off the audience interac- tion, making people laugh, and I love people's reactions to my boldness. I know no boundaries! Give me a fabulous bedazzled costume and mike, honey, and I will light up the stage! Long before you achieved reality TV stardom, you were an exotic dancer. Are we going to see a little bit of that former dancer shine through in this erotic show? I've never been shy about my past, because I believe that every life experi- ence helps mold you into the person you are presently, and I absolutely think that being in tune with my sexuality and my comfort with being on a stage in front of a crowd will carry over to my Zumanity performance. I'm so lucky to have been a part of Glee and The New Normal, helping build my acting career, and now on Dancing with the Stars—I was beyond ready for this Cirque du Soleil gig when I got the call. As I say in my Real Housewives of Atlanta one-liner, "I have arrived and the spotlight is on me, honey!" NeNe Leakes appears in Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity at New York-New York through July 1. For tickets, call 866-606-7111 or visit cirquedusoleil.com. V NeNe Leakes takes her role as Zumanity's Mistress of Sensuality to heart. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOMO MUSCIONICO 46 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM GUEST STAR